Chapter 105: Ji Bai's Secret

Jiang Yuan had always thought it would be the Shen clan's ancestor.

When he was with the Longwater Shen clan, he had once vaguely sensed a faint but overbearing power.

Moreover, with Shen Qingli having the Supreme Unity God Venerable "standing" behind her, he decided to sever ties completely with the Primordial Origin Sect.

Firstly, this was originally his cherished wish;

Secondly, Shen Qingli's talent is too great; if he doesn't completely cut off any possible connection, she will eventually be dragged into the Primordial Origin Sect's mire.

Thirdly, he wants to protect the juniors of the Heaven Star lineage.

As long as he is around, he can still shelter these juniors, but what if he ascends?

These stubborn juniors can't do without him; he must pave the way for them.

And now…

"Kid, can you handle it?"

Jiang Yuan directly sent a secret mental transmission to Di Jin.

He now feels that this opportunity is this kid.

"Sure."

Di Jin's transmission was just two words.

Jiang Yuan's eyes lit up!

The brat agreed without even asking the details, showing he's got a diamond-like constitution; otherwise he wouldn't dare take on this fragile task.

But Shen Qingli had a question: "Can the Star Phenomenon Mountain still accept a master?"

She's been inside; it's not a cosmic universe?

To have the Star Phenomenon Mountain acknowledge a master—wouldn't that be making heaven acknowledge a master?

How could that make sense…

"Of course." Jiang Yuan was very certain: "You just need to do what you did last time when you entered the Star Phenomenon Mountain—when It appears, merge with It, accept It, and that's enough."

Shen Qingli's forehead was full of question marks: "If that's all it takes, why didn't I receive acknowledgment last time?"

"It hasn't come back yet." Jiang Yuan laughed heartily: "Back then It was still out playing around; It only started anchoring to you and returning after sensing you."

"So fond of play, you must be great at it." Jiu Li looked pleadingly, wanting a fun little companion.

Only then did Jiang Yuan notice it, his gaze turning even stranger: "You're not a cat."

He, who had been locked underground all this time, still didn't know Shen Qingli possessed a ninth-grade magic beast.

"No, your iron-eating beasts aren't magic beasts—you're dark beasts!" Jiang Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement, "This little cat also knows how to choose its master well."

"Of course." Jiu Li grinned, "As soon as I saw A Li, I liked her. Old man, what mountain are you talking about?"

"When It arrives, you'll know—you'll surely like it." Jiang Yuan stared at this monstrous iron-eating beast, his heart steadier!

Timing, the Star Phenomenon Mountain is about to be in place;

Advantage of location, the alchemist competition is right here;

Harmony of people, this kid and this monstrous beast before us are no ordinary beings.

"That's wonderful!" Jiu Li began clapping its paws.

Jiang Yuan then ushered them out, "Alright, you may leave now."

"You must be uncomfortable like this; do you need me to do something?"

Shen Qingli couldn't bear to see him, at his age, still skewering and roasting here.

"Don't, hurry up and leave—make sure you're not discovered! Though the Primordial Origin Sect acts shabbily, I don't like them, but they still have some skill; don't cause complications."

Jiang Yuan had endured so many years; finally awaiting this great opportunity, he wouldn't let comfort ruin it—losing everything at the last moment would be a huge loss.

Seeing that Jiang Yuan had a plan, Shen Qingli didn't add more: "Alright, then we'll wait for the right moment to act."

Jiang Yuan nodded, "Just prepare well, adjust your body and mind to peak condition."

"All right." Shen Qingli agreed, getting ready to leave.

"Wait, can you make the Earth Core Fire go out of control?"

He had been caught up in the excited later discussion, Jiang Yuan almost forgot this vital point that could save his life.

Although he's old, he still cherishes his life; he still hopes to attain divinity and ascend.

"Don't worry." Shen Qingli said, "Even if I can't, I still have a fire phoenix. Should I leave it with you first?"

If that really fails, she also has a divine dragon. But she didn't say that out loud—better to keep a steady hand.

"No, no, no, let's go first." Jiang Yuan feared he couldn't control the fire phoenix, lest the Earth Core Fire lose control prematurely.

If it loses control now, he won't be able to escape when he goes out, after all the Star Phenomenon Mountain isn't ready yet.

"In three days, I estimate the competition will start—will we make it?" Shen Qingli checked the time again, feeling that this matter is so important their discussion seemed overly hasty.

"Enough, enough, I'll urge it along."

"You can still urge it?"

Shen Qingli looked at this grandmaster ancestor with strange eyes—very impressive!

Jiu Li bluntly said, "This old guy has a bit of your vibe, and he's played with that mountain for so long—there's definitely no problem."

"When you refine the Star Phenomenon Mountain, you also need his assistance." Di Jin also said, so saving this old man is necessary; every link must be flawless.

"Alright, alright, I also need to start preparing. You guys hurry up and leave, seize the time." Jiang Yuan feared that if he urged too late, by then the Star Phenomenon Mountain wouldn't be ready, which would be embarrassing.

"Then we're leaving." Shen Qingli said and went; with their speed, they soon exited the underground and "drilled" out of the seal from their original position.

After returning to the place where they had met with Di Jin, Shen Qingli then asked, "Where did you live before? Do you need to go back first?"

"No need, I'll just go back with you. How's Dad? Still okay?" About to meet, Di Jin finally remembered to greet his cheap father.

"Not bad." Shen Qingli circled back to the topic, "But it seems your father sealed some of my father's memories; when will you undo them? Also, you still haven't answered me—what exactly is the relationship between the Supreme Unity God Venerable and you?"

"That seal probably can't be undone for now; we have to wait until your father incarnates and ascends, then he'll undo it himself." Di Jin had it figured: "This time, coming with you, how many Shen clan brothers are there?"

"Just the elder brother, everyone else is in seclusion." Shen Qingli said that and then fell silent; she sensed a not‑weak divine sense sweeping this way, probably the Hunyuan Sect's routine patrol.

Di Jin nevertheless said, "Divine Venerable, once you ascend to the divine realm, you'll understand."

Shen Qingli immediately made a silencing gesture! At this crucial moment, any mishap must be avoided.

Di Jin fell silent and obediently let her lead him back to the guest quarters.

But at the earth's core——

No sooner had the two departed than someone appeared.

"Jiang Shishu."

"Ji Bai?"

Jiang Yuan's heart leapt into his throat, afraid that this junior disciple of his might detect something.

As the former sect master, Ji Bai had governed the Hunyuan Sect for over a thousand years.

After finally stepping down, the new sect master died, and he had to return to the position of sect master.

Just as he emerged, he ran into a troublemaker causing a ruckus; Ji Bai felt helpless, saying, "It's me."

"You aren't in seclusion?" Jiang Yuan also wasn't pleased.

When he had just left seclusion, he didn't know the Hunyuan Sect had a new sect master, still thinking Ji Bai was in charge, and had braced himself for the worst.

Later, upon learning that Ji Bai had stepped down, he breathed a sigh of relief and realized that this marriage alliance wasn't Ji Bai's doing—in fact, that made it easier to handle!

Otherwise, that marriage contract would have absolutely no loophole to exploit.

It certainly isn't something that can be resolved merely by severing the Tianxing lineage.

Even if the marriage contract isn't fulfilled, it could greatly affect the Shen clan and Shen Qingli herself.

"It's not because of you that the patriarch has summoned me out again."

Ji Bai, clad in a white robe, looked much younger than Jiang Yuan—even younger than the deceased sect master—appearing only in his thirties, though he was actually over two thousand years old.

"Uncle, can't we avoid a scene?" Ji Bai asked gently, even holding two jugs of wine, as if he'd come just to catch up.

Jiang Yuan, however, sprang to full alertness, his mind filled with vigilance: "You and I are old acquaintances; you should know this has always been what I've wanted."

"If you understand, then even if the Star‑Symbol Mountain refuses to obey, the sect cannot let it leave unless you can anchor it within the sect; I can agree to any other of your demands." Ji Bai offered the wine jug, and with one hand easily brushed aside the earth‑core fire.

Jiang Yuan's eyelid twitched: "You've touched the power of rules."

If that's the case, with Ji Bai suppressing it, the earth‑core fire won't run wild.